Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is pointing to the actions of his own father, a devout Catholic, in explaining why he thinks it is important for political leaders to “stand up” for Canadians’ rights on contentious issues such as abortion.

In an interview with the Citizen Thursday, Trudeau reacted to concerns raised by Toronto’s Catholic Archbishop Thomas Collins, who has urged the Liberal leader to reverse his policy of screening out prospective candidates for the party who oppose abortion.

But Trudeau indicated he’s not about to change his mind, and he spoke of how his own father, Pierre Trudeau, once took actions in government — on divorce and homosexuality — that were not necessarily in line with the thoughts of some Catholics.

“I had an extraordinary example in a father who had deeply, deeply held personal views that were informed by the fact that he went to church every Sunday, read the Bible regularly to us, and raised us very, very religious, very Catholic,” said Trudeau.

“But at the same time he had no problem legalizing divorce, decriminalizing homosexuality and moving in ways that recognized the basic rights of the people.

“He held his personal views very, very strongly. But he understood that as leaders, as political figures, as representatives of a larger community, our utmost responsibility is to stand up for peoples’ rights.”

In the early 1980s, Pierre Trudeau was the driving force behind constitutional change that featured the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as its centerpiece.

“The Liberal party is the party of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” Justin Trudeau told the Citizen. “It defines us in the way it defines this country.”

“And since 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada has recognized that a woman’s right to a choice in this matter is a Charter right. Is upheld by the Constitution.”

Trudeau said individuals in the Liberal party are “allowed and even encouraged” to have personal views.

But the party “needs to make sure that with its votes we do not accept that a government could legislate away a woman’s fundamental rights.”

Last week, Trudeau said anyone seeking to run for the party in the next election must commit to being “openly pro-choice in their positions.” Those who won’t make such a promise won’t be accepted as candidates.

The only exceptions are current Liberal MPs who are anti-abortion. Three voted in favour of a Conservative MP’s motion in the House of Commons in 2012 that called for a study of the Criminal Code’s definition of when human life begins.

The Conservative caucus is deeply split and Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said his government won’t introduce a bill to criminalize the medical procedure.

Speaking Thursday in New Brunswick, where there are concerns about a lack of access to abortion, Harper said he will stay out of the matter.

“Our government is going to do every thing we can to keep from re-opening that particular debate,” he said.

In a veiled swipe at the Liberals’ position, he said, “Ours is a big party where we understand the Canadian people have different, often conflicting views on issues like this. Deeply held views, and all such views are welcome in the Conservative party of Canada.”

The NDP, which has a pro-choice policy, says Trudeau’s stance is inconsistent because some sitting Liberal MPs will still be allowed to vote against abortion.

The New Democrats have tabled a motion, by Manitoba MP Niki Ashton, calling on MPs to affirm that “a woman’s right to choose abortion is a fundamental question of equality and human rights, both in Canada and around the world.”

It isn’t clear yet whether or when a vote will be held on the motion. The NDP has one more opposition day available to it before the House of Commons breaks in June but hasn’t decided its strategy yet.

A vote on the motion would put at least four Liberals who oppose abortion – Toronto MPs John McKay and Judy Sgro, Winnipeg MP Kevin Lamoureux and Prince Edward Island MP Lawrence MacAulay – on the spot. They would have to choose between standing by their beliefs or potentially embarrassing their leader.

In a quick press conference after Harper’s remarks Thursday, Trudeau said “People are welcome to join the Liberal Party, regardless of their personal views, and express their views, but when it comes to voting on legislation, that is a different thing.

“Legislation that would limit a woman’s right to choose is contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

– With a file from The Canadian Press.

mkennedy@ottawacitizen.com

Twitter.com/Mark_Kennedy_

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